FLIGHT, 6 Febru
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THERE was once a tendency to believe that the design and construction of really imposing aircraft hangars was an exclusively American achievement. Since the war, however, progress in this country has been very marked.
Flight readers are already familiar with the great Brabazon hangar at Filton, and
those under construction for B.E.A. and B.O.A.C. at London Airport; and
now comes de Havilland's glittering new flight hangar at Hatfield. Aluminium
alloy has been used throughout, giving a structure-weight claimed to be only
one-seventh that of comparable steelwork. This economy has permitted a large
degree of prefabrication, and the main structure was erected by eighteen men
in thirteen weeks, using two five-ton hand-operated cranes and very little
scaffolding. A further advantage of the alloy is that no painting is required;
the bright surface gives a high daylight-factor inside the hangar.
Total clear floor space is 330ft by 200ft, and each of the shorter sides consists
of Esavian folding doors 45ft high. The whole structure weighs only 395 tons,
of which 200 are aluminium, 125 bitumenised roof decking, and 28 wired glazing.
Main contractors for the work are Structural and Mechanical Development
Engineers, Ltd., Slough, and the architects were James M. Monro and Son.
Gilbert Ash, Ltd., laid the foundation; Carter-Horseley (Engineers), Ltd., were
the erectors; Southern Forge, Ltd., and T. I. Aluminium, Ltd., supplied the
structural sections and the British Aluminium Co., Ltd., the corrugated sheeting.
Other contributors included William Briggs and Sons, Ltd. (roofing), East
woods Specialists, Ltd. (insulation), Helliwells, Ltd. (glazing) and the Warwick
Production Co., Ltd. (apron flashings)—i.e., roof-and-wall waterproof jointings.
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(Top) The great size and almost Well-
sian appearance of the new hangar is
well illustrated in this photograph, taken
on December 31st. The structure on
the side is to be a brick-built annexe.
(Above) Close-up of the base of one of the
portal frames, which are prefabricated
in the S.M.D. works at Slough.
(Left) Workmen are seen raising one of
the 12 roof girders into position. These
girders are constructed in two parts
and joined on the ground before erection.
•v.